In the Independent, David Cameron explains the five lessons he learned as the father of a disabled child, and on how he wants to help parents in a similar position negotiate their way through the medical bureaucracy.

One option we're looking at is inspired by something they're doing in Austria. There a crack team of medical experts – doctor, nurse, physio – act as a one-stop-shop to assess families and get them the help they need.

In the Daily Mail, Steve Doughty reports on a speech by Lord Judge, the lord chief justice, in which he complained that the government was passing too many laws.

The lord chief justice said his request was "one which has been frequently addressed, but so far without success. Can we possibly have less legislation, particularly in the field of criminal justice?"

All eyes are turning to VAT as the easiest and least painful way of raising substantial sums. Putting it up to 20% brings in about £12.5bn, less than a tenth of what is needed; but, as the supermarket tells us, every little bit helps.

Sunder Katwala at Next Left writes about making parliament more representative, and about how David Lammy was wrong to say it would take another 75 years to get a proportionate number of black and ethnic-minority MPs elected.

Fortunately, in the real world, we are doing much better than this gloomy prognosis ... I think it is safe to make a (rather cautious) prediction of a net gain of seven BME MPs at the next general election, to take the total to 22 in 2010, based on the selections which have already taken place.

One figure, who knows Sarah Brown well, believes she is simply being pragmatic and attempting to use the platform she currently has to raise awareness of the things that matter most to her ... "She's approaching it in exactly the same way as the prime minister himself, which is to say: 'I've got a year, let's make the most of it' – and then dust off the CV."

Mr Brown's closest colleagues and advisers have been stressing to him that he needs a proper holiday before the long run into next year's election. He has been accused of being "weary" after months of bitter political battles, including the expenses scandal and attempts by Labour MPs to force him from office.